In the world of global sports, the amounts of money involved are staggering. From record-breaking broadcasting agreements to multi-million-dollar contracts, today’s sports leagues are true powerhouses of wealth. But which leagues pay their athletes the highest salaries? In this blog, we rank the top 10 highest paying sports leagues in the world (2025) based on average player salary and total revenue generated.
Highest Paying Sports Leagues as of 2025
Here is the list of the top 10 highest paying sports leagues in the world.
🔟 10. Major League Baseball (MLB) – USA
- Average Salary: $4.5 million/year
- Total Revenue (2024): $10.7 billion
- Highlight: Longest guaranteed contracts in sports.
MLB may not dominate headlines like the NFL or NBA, but it remains a cash-rich league. With players landing 10+ year contracts, MLB is still a financial goldmine for top athletes.
9️⃣ 9. NHL (National Hockey League) – USA/Canada
- Sport Type: Hockey
- Average Salary: $3.2 million/year
- Total Revenue (2024): $6 billion
- Highlight: Strong fanbase in North America and Europe.
The NHL combines passionate fans with solid broadcasting deals, securing a spot among the top 10 richest leagues despite being less global.
8️⃣ 8. Serie A – Italy
- Sport Type: Football
- Average Salary: $2.5 million/year
- Total Revenue (2024): $3.3 billion
- Highlight: Home to legendary clubs like Juventus and AC Milan.
While not as lucrative as the EPL, Serie A remains a significant player in global football economics with a high wage bill.
7️⃣ 7. La Liga – Spain (Highest paying Sports league in Europe)
- Average Salary: $3.5 million/year
- Total Revenue (2024): $4.8 billion
- Highlight: Includes global giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.
La Liga players enjoy some of the best salaries in European football thanks to high sponsorships and broadcasting rights.
6️⃣ 6. Bundesliga—Germany
- Average Salary: $4.2 million/year
- Total Revenue (2024): $5.5 billion
- Highlight: Most efficient club model with high fan attendance.
Bundesliga clubs combine high player salaries with efficient business practices, making it one of the best-paying and most stable leagues.
5️⃣ 5. Indian Premier League (IPL) – India
- Sport Type: Cricket
- Average Salary: $5.3 million/season (for top-tier players)
- Total Revenue (2024): $1.3 billion (but rising rapidly)
- Highlight: Short format, high returns, one of highest paying sports leagues in Asia.
Despite being only 2 months long, IPL players make more per match than most athletes worldwide. It has revolutionized cricket’s economy.
IPL is one of the richest sports leagues in the world, and it is most popular in Asian countries, UK, Australia, South Africa etc.
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4️⃣ 4. English Premier League (EPL) – UK
- Sport Type: Football
- Average Salary: $4.5 million/year
- Total Revenue (2024): $7.2 billion
- Highlight: Most-watched football league globally.
The EPL reigns supreme in terms of broadcasting reach, which translates into massive wages for players and revenue for clubs.
3️⃣ 3. NBA (National Basketball Association) – USA
- Average Salary: $10.5 million/year
- Total Revenue (2024): $13.4 billion
- Highlight: Highest average player salary in team sports.
With its global audience and billion-dollar apparel deals (like Nike), the NBA is a top-paying league, especially for its star athletes.
2️⃣ 2. Saudi Pro League – Saudi Arabia
- Average Salary: $12.5 million/year (top players)
- Total Revenue (2024): ~$1 billion (but heavily funded by state wealth)
- Highlight: Huge contracts luring global superstars.
While the revenue is lower than Western leagues, government backing allows the SPL to offer massive contracts and disrupt the global football market.
🥇 1. NFL (National Football League) – USA
- Average Salary: $2.8 million/year
- Total Revenue (2024): $18.6 billion
- Highlight: The richest sports in the world in 2025 by Revenue.
Though average salaries are lower due to team size, the NFL is an economic giant. Its Super Bowl is the most expensive broadcast in sports history. This is the highest paying sports leagues for players and is the richest sports in the world in 2025.
📊 List of Highest Paying Sports Leagues
| World Ranking | Name of League | Avg. Salary/Year | Total Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NFL | $2.8M | $18.6B |
| 2 | Saudi Pro League | $12.5M | ~$1B |
| 3 | NBA | $10.5M | $13.4B |
| 4 | EPL | $4.5M | $7.2B |
| 5 | IPL | $5.3M | $1.3B |
| 6 | Bundesliga | $4.2M | $5.5B |
| 7 | La Liga | $3.5M | $4.8B |
| 8 | Serie A | $2.5M | $3.3B |
| 9 | NHL | $3.2M | $6B |
| 10 | MLB | $4.5M | $10.7B |
✅ Final Thoughts
From billion-dollar franchises to record-breaking player contracts, these sports leagues prove that competition isn’t just on the field—it’s in the bank too. Whether you’re a fan or an aspiring athlete, knowing where the big money flows adds an exciting dimension to sports.
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